The MOOC manuscripts are unique, in that no copies were sent to VOC headquarters, and they are detailed records of South African families and their fixed and moveable properties - including slaves. The documents are hand-written in Dutch (and ‘Cape Dutch’), which is difficult for most researchers to read or understand, and in a vulnerable condition from over-use.

 

The slaves Anthonij and Patientie auctioned alongside a bed and wardrobe

 

A series of public workshops were held during Phase One because the documents are such a valuable source of information to local communities, particularly those people whose ancestors lived in the Western Cape. The enthusiastic response of researchers, archivists, academics, educators - and many other people - more than justified the effort. This culminated in the revision and reprinting of ‘Slaves at the Cape’, and the publication of two new guidebooks, ‘Household Inventories at the Cape’ and ‘Places at the Cape’, which will be of interest to people involved in the classroom, in museums and in heritage tourism, as well as archivists and researchers.

These guidebooks will guide you through how to begin your research and how to find related sources. They also tell you how many other people – community researchers, archivists, writers, historians, archaeologists and genealogists – have discovered stories about slaves, people and places at the Cape. Even if you are already an experienced researcher, we hope that the guides offer you something of interest.


                                   

 

Cape Transcripts on CD

The Orphan Chamber transcriptions are hosted on the TANAP website and can be searched and downloaded from there. For local researchers, the following transcriptions, indexes and associated resources have been produced as a CD:

 

1. Inventories, Auction Lists and Estate Accounts

Introduction

 

1.1 Inventories

MOOC8/1-75 (75 volumes)
Bilingual List to the Inventories (Dutch and English)
Transcribing the Inventories – a personal experience
Table of women whose deaths were childbirth-related
The Orphan Chamber – a visit

 

1.2 Auction Lists

MOOC10/1-5 (5 volumes)
MOOC10/6-46: Indexed

1.3 Estate Accounts

MOOC14/1-85: Indexed
Häszner's Medical Home Manual

 

2. "Bandietenrollen"

Introduction
CJ3186-CJ3192A (8 volumes)
CJ 2562-CJ 2568 (7 volumes)

 

3. VOC Muster Rolls

Introduction
VC39/2-VC48 (11 volumes)
NA12537-12653 (7 volumes)

  

Buying the Guidebooks and CDs

The Guidebooks can be ordered through Antonia Malan at info@capetranscripts.co.za or antonia@tracinghistorytrust.co.za.

The CDs can be ordered through Helena Liebenberg at helena@tracinghistorytrust.co.za or tel. 021- 949 2736.

 

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